Elastic, electrically conductive contact springs

Abstract

The method consists in using a strip of a plastically deformable material which is capable of acquiring elastic spring properties after treatment. The central portion of the strip is coated in a layer of electrically conductive material and then the strip is punched so as to obtain springs which are interconnected at their ends by two continuous side strips. Thereafter, the springs are displaced from the plane of the strip being twisted about their respective longitudinal axes, and one edge of each spring is folded down as a hem in the direction which ensures that the layer of conductive material remains on the outside of the fold. Thereafter, the strip is subjected to hardening treatment to confer elastic properties thereto.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A strip of electric contact springs for an electrical connector, said springs being integral at their lengthwise ends with two continuous side strips, the springs being displaced from a plane of said side strips by twisting about their respective longitudinal axes, said strip being made of a material having elastic spring properties, wherein each spring includes at least two faces, and at least a central portion of one face of each spring is coated with an electrically conductive coating, and wherein an edge of each spring is folded down as a hem in the direction which causes the electrically conductive coating to appear on an outside portion of the fold, and wherein 
       said side strips include a plurality of side tongues.  
     
     
       2. The strip of  claim 1 , wherein said side strips are pleated and the quality of being pleated brings said springs closer to one another. 
     
     
       3. A strip of electrical contact springs, wherein: 
       said springs are elastic and include at least two surfaces, wherein only one of the surfaces is coated with an electrically conductive coating; and  
       said springs include two ends with a first end connected to a first side strip and a second end connected to a second side strip, wherein said springs each rotate on an axis, said axis drawn from where said first end connects to said first side strip to where said second end connects to said second side strip, wherein a plane created by one of said at least two surfaces of said springs is oblique to a plane created by said first and second side strips, and wherein said side strips are pleated.  
     
     
       4. The strip of  claim 3 , wherein said pleated side strips further include side tongues, said side tongues not being pleated and being of lesser thickness than said pleated side strips.